Topics

In 2012, the biotech sector in Bavaria was home to most of the dedicated biotech companies in Germany. Major branches of international companies underpin Bavaria as a location in the pharmaceutical sector, while the Medical Valley EMN is one of the economically strongest and most scientifically active medical technology clusters in the world, based on outstanding expertise in the key technologies of electronics and microsystems technology, information and communication technology, optical technologies and new materials. The key to Bavaria’s attractiveness is the variety of excellent scientific institutions in the life sciences field. The sixth Bavarian university hospital is already in the offing in Augsburg. All Bavarian hospitals count today among the leading facilities in Germany. Moreover, numerous institutions and extra-university research facility centres contribute to this broad knowledge base.

Clusters and related links:
Bio^M
Cluster Biotechnology
Forum MedTech Pharma e.V.
Medical Valley EMN

Bavaria has been one of the most important ICT locations in the world for decades now. 40 percent of German IT companies are based in Bavaria. According to a study by the EU Commission, Munich is the IT lighthouse in Europe and Germany’s largest ICT employer. What is special about the ICT companies based in Bavaria is that they are active along the entire value chain. Apart from companies involved in development, numerous user industries are also located in Bavaria. The Bavarian State Government set itself the goal in 2015 of making Bavaria the leading region for the digital awakening. In addition to other measures, twenty new professorships were created in key digitalisation topics throughout Bavaria. The Center Digitisation.Bavaria (CD.B) is a unique nationwide co-operation, research and start-up platform in Germany in which various activities for strengthening the networking of science and industry as well as other support measures have been bundled since 2016. Three billion euros will be invested by Bavaria in its digital future between 2018 and 2022.

Clusters and related links:
aitiRaum (German)
Cluster BICCnet
Cluster Leistungselektronik (German)
Center Digitisation.Bavaria 

Mechatronics, that is to say the interdisciplinary combination of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology, is shaping modern mechanical engineering and related industry groups. More than 55 percent of revenue in the manufacturing industry is generated in Bavaria in sectors that draw on the innovative strength of mechatronic solutions – mechanical engineering, the automotive industry as well as the electrical and electronics industry. These sectors employ around half of all workers in the manufacturing industry in Bavaria. The strategic importance of mechatronics and modern mechanical engineering for Bavaria as a location is therefore clear to see. Activities in Bavaria in this area focus on delivering innovative products with improved or new functionalities as well as efficient production processes.

Clusters and related links:
Cluster Mechatronik & Automation e.V.
Strategic Partnership Sensor Technology e.V.

The development and use of new materials is the key to product and process innovations in many sectors. This applies for fibre composites as well as for technical ceramics and glasses or materials for large-scale processable electronics. Bavaria is in the top league internationally in this cross-sector technology, employing some one million people in 4,000 companies and with profound material science and material technology expertise in universities and extra-university research facilities. In the field of nanotechnology, Bavaria is one of the leading technology locations in Germany.

Clusters and related links:
Carbon Composites e.V.
Cluster Nanotechnology
Cluster New Materials (German)
Competition Center New Marterials North Bavaria

When Germany signed up to the nuclear phase-out in 2011, which is set to run to 2022, Bavaria faced an enormous challenge as some 60 percent of its power supply at that time came from nuclear energy. Thanks to massive investment in energy research and new technologies, Bavaria succeeded in changing course and is aiming to generate half of its power supply from renewable energies by 2022. Electric mobility is a closely related topic and one that the Bavarian State Government intends to develop progressively through a variety of specific measures aimed at establishing Bavaria as a leading market and leading provider of electric mobility. Other important sectors where Bavaria can demonstrate its outstanding know-how include waste management, recycling and secondary raw materials.

Clusters and related links:
Bayerisches Zentrum für Angewandte Energieforschung e.V. (German)
Cluster Automotive (German)
Cluster Energietechnik (German)
The Forestry and Wood Cluster Initiative in Bavaria
Cluster of environmental technologies Bavaria